The driver of a heavy goods vehicle who hit the car of a British family in 2017, killing the father and a baby, was sentenced Thursday by French justice to five years in prison, four of which were suspended.

The company that employed him, also prosecuted, was fined 20,000 euros (over $26,000) by the Quimper criminal court.

The collision occurred on June 27, 2017 at 2:30 p.m. on a departmental road between Quimper and Pluguffan, to the west. The driver of the truck, which was transporting cattle that day, had struck the family vehicle from behind, which had slowed down just before an intersection to turn left.

The 10-month-old baby died instantly and his father the next day. The mother, who was in the back of the car next to her baby, was seriously injured.

The defendant, a 32-year-old man, had not respected the legal rest period. He had also falsified the disc of his tachograph intended to retrace his hours of driving and rest.

"It's the only way to respect the rhythm" of imposed work, he had indicated at the helm on June 2, ensuring that most of the other drivers of the company did not respect the legal rest time either.

The 30-year-old was also speeding, driving at 87 km / h on a section limited to 80 and had exchanged several messages from his mobile phone just before the accident.

The driver, who converted to masonry, was also banned from the profession of truck driver for five years.